Tire inflater



Jam 2h 1941. W, 1", AMNEUS 2,229,023

TIRE INFLATER Film1 May ll, 19:5@

Y INVENTOR. l/l/f//am 7 AHV/veus Way/Mig@ Patented Jan. 21, 1941 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

The invention relates to tire inaters of the type commonly used inservice stations, garages and the like for inilating pneumatic tires.

An object of the present invention is to provide 5 an air inflater ofthe character described, which embodies in a single unit a valvemechanism and a gauge which is adapted for connection to a source of airunder pressure and a tire to be inflated, and which provides for thedirect inflation ci the tire Without any manipulation of the valvemechanism and involves only a simple shifting oi the valve mechanism toconnect the gauge to the tire being inflated to determine the airpressure of the tire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tire inflater of thecharacter described having an improved valve mechanism which is simplyconstructed of a minimum number oi parts wherein the Wearing parts areconned to a few 20 standard inexpensive Washers, whereby the device willhave a substantially unlimited operating life with the making of aminimum number of repairs and replacement oi parts.

A further object oi the invention is to provide 25 a tire inflater ofthe character described which may be quickly and easily dismembered bythe user for inspection, cleaning or repair of the device.

The invention possesses other objects and fea- `30 tures of advantage,some of Whi-ch, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of the preferred form of the invention which is illustratedin the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It isto be 35 understood, however, that variations in the showing made by thesaid drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of theinvention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing: all Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tireinflater constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation shown partly in cross-section of thetire chuck of the inflater. Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional Viewof the valve mechanism and associated passages of the inilater and shownwith the parts in normal position for inlating a tire.

50 Figure l is a View similar to Figure 8 but showing parts moved to aposition intermediate the inflating and gauge actuating positions of thevalve.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to `55 Figures 3 and 4 butshowing the parts of the (Cl. IS7-69.5)

valve mechanism in position connecting the gauge to the tire.

The tire inflater of the present invention and as illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, comprises a body or casing 'I which embodies avalve 5 mechanism and a gauge 9, and is provided with suitable passagesII, I2 and I3 for connection of the valve mechanism to a source of airunder pressure, a tire and the gauge respectively. As a principalfeature of the present inlater, the pas- 10 sage II is normallyconnected directly with the passage I2 so that a tire may be inflatedWithout any manipulation of the valve mechanism. As here shown, aflexible conduit I4 is connected to the body in registration with thepassage I2, and is provided at its free end with a chuck I6 adapted forconnection to the valve stem of a tire. Due to the normal connection ofthe air pressure passage Il and ldelivery passage I2, and to prevent afree discharge of air from the conduit I4, the chuck I6 is provided witha check valve Il which is normally held by the pressure in the line,sealed against a valve washer seat I8. The valve I1 is provided with astem I9 which extends longitudinally through an open portion 2| in the25 end of the chuck and may be displaced to unseat the valve I'I by thetire valve stem upon applying the chuck thereto. In this Way the valvemechanism 8 rem-ains inoperable during the inflation of the tire, andwhile the air pressure source is communicated to the tire or sealed oiby the operation of the check valve in the chuck.

The essential function of the valve mechanism is to interrupt thecommunication of passages II and I2 and to establish a communicationbetween 35 pass-ages I2 and I3, so as to stop the inilation of a tireand to allow the pressure in the tire to be applied to the gauge 9. Afurther function of the valve mechanism is to relieve the pressureapplied to the gauge when the mechanism is returned to 40 a normalinlating position. Ordinarily it has been common to use various springsand the like to assist in the manipulation. of the valve mechanism. Inthe present case, however, the return movements of the valve mechanismare effected without the use of springs or the like by taking advantageof the pressure in the supply line and maintaining a pressuredifferential across the movable valve for constantly urging the same toa normal inoperative position as aforesaid. Also, the present valvemechanism has been designed to positively prevent the direct applicationof the source pressure to the gauge and the communication between thegauge and the tire cannot be established until after the source pressurehas been disconnected from the tire.

The valve mechanism as here shown, is contained within a valved chamber22 which is preferably of elongated, cylindrical form and is arrangedwith its outer end 23 opening to a side 24 of the body. The passage IIis preferably positioned to open to the inner end 26 of the chambersubstantially coaxial therewith, and is connected to a threaded socket2'! in the body adapted for receipt of one end 28 of a coupling lsection. The passages I2 and I3 are preferably positioned to enter thechamber 22 at the longitudinal side thereof with the passage I2 adjacentthe inner end 26 and the passage I3 spaced outwardly therefrom. Asealing washer 29 is preferably mounted at the inner end 26 of thechamber and defines a seat for one end 3| of a valve 32. A secondsealing washer 33 is mounted in the chamber intermediate the passages I2and I3 and provides a seat for an opposite end 34 of the valve 32. Thevalve 32 is preferably of cylindrical form and is of a diameter slightlylarger than the normal unexpanded internal diameters of the washers 29and 33, so that upon forced longitudinal movement of the valve, the samewill enter into and expand the open central portions of the washers andtightly seat the valve therein to seal the passage therethrough. Tofacilitate the mounting of the washers and Valve within the chamber, Iprefer to insert a sleeve 36 in the chamber between the washers andagainst the ends of which the washers may abut. The sleeve is ported tothe passage I2 by way of radial openings 39 which, as here shown,communicate the interior of the sleeve with a circumferential channel 4Imounted in registration with the passage I2. The sleeve is also providedadjacent its inner end with a shoulder 31 for centering the adjacent endof the valve and to guide the latter into and from the open centerportion of the washer 29. Likewise, the valve 32 is preferably providedwith an annular shoulder 38 for supporting the valve in substantiallycentral position within the sleeve, and which has the further functionof engaging the Washer 33 to provide a stop for the outward movement ofthe valve. Preferably, the shoulders 3l and 33 only loosely engage thevalve and the sleeve respectively, so as to not interfere with thepassage of air therebetween. Preferably, the opposite ends 3| and 34 arerounded or beveled, as here shown, in ord-er to facilitate the entry andwedging of these ends into the open center portions of the washers. Thewashers are preferably made of rubber or other compressible material ofsuitable hardness to properly cooperate with the valve in sealing thepassages.

It will be seen from the above that the end 3| of the valve is disposedimmediately in front of the air pressure passage II and preferably, theopposite end 34 of the valve is arranged in a chamber of reducedpressure so that the valve will be normally urged by the pressuredifferential across the valve to an outward position, removing the end3I of the valve from the washer 29, as illustrated in Figure 3. In thismanner the pressure passageII is communicated directly with the passageI2 and the applied pressure is utilized to supply a force for constantlyurging the valve to an outward inoperative position.

The valve may be displaced inwardly to engage the washer 29 to seal thepressure passage II as aforesaid, and in such position the opposite end34 becomes spaced from the washer 33, as illustrated in Figure 5, so asto allow the air to flow from the tire passage I2 outwardly through thewasher 33, to the gauge passage I3. In order to prevent the applicationof the pressure in the passage I2 to the gauge, the valve 32 is of sucha length relative to the washers 29 and 33 as to firmly engage thewasher 29 prior to disengagement of the washer 33, as shown in Figure 4,and only disengages the washer 33 after the same has penetrated asubstantial distance through the interior of the washer 29, as indicatedin Figure 5. In this manner, it will be clear that the manipulation ofthe valve to communicate the passages I2 and I3 will automatically causea sealing off of the passage I I prior to the establishment of suchcommunication and, therefore, the gauge will be always positivelyprotected from the pressure of the source of compressed air.

The longitudinal movement of the valve 32 to connect the gauge to thetire as aforesaid, is arranged to be effected in the presentconstruction by an operating member 42 extended longitudinally throughthe outer end of the valve chamber for engagement of the valve end 34.The member 42 may be supported for longitudinal reciprocation by aclosure 43, here shown threaded into the outer end 23 of the chamber,and may be held against outward withdrawal from the chamber by means ofa shoulder 44 provided on the member and which in the outward positionthereof is arranged to abut the inner side of the closure. An enlargedhead portion 58 is provided on the outer end of the member 42 forengagement by the fingers of the user. Preferably, the Washer 33 issupported longitudinally against the end of a sleeve 46 which is mountedin the chamber opposite the passage I3 and is ported by means of aradial opening 4l extending from the interior of the sleeve to a channel48 surrounding the sleeve. Mounted against the outer end of the sleeve46 is a hat washer 49 which closely surrounds and seals the inner endportion 5I of the member 42. The hat washer 49 is in turn secured inplace by a compressible washer 52 and the latter is supported at itsouter end by a metal washer 53 clamped in place by the closure 43. Thewasher 53 also preferably loosely supports the member 42 inapproximately center [position Within the chamber. It will be noted thateach of the above parts of the valve mechanism may be assembled throughthe open outer end of the valve chamber and fitted tightly against eachother by a longitudinal pressure applied by threading of the closure 43into the chamber. The normal reduction of pressure in the portion of thechamber outwardly of the valve end 39 is effected by venting thisportion of the chamber to the atmosphere in the normal position of thevalve mechanism, that is when the gauge is not in use. Upon movement ofthe valve mechanism to connect the tire passage I2 to the gauge passageI3, however, the atmospheric connection of the chamber is closed off soas to seal the tire and gauge passages in communication without loss ofair to the atmosphere. The closing of the chamber connection to theatmosphere and displacement of the valve 32 to communicate the tire andgauge passages as aforesaid, is here arranged to be accomplished in asingle step by providing the atmospheric connection for the chamberdirectly in the member 42, so that on movement of the latter to engagethe valve, the atmospheric connection will be closed. This is effectedby forming the member it oi a tubular stem-like construction having aninternal longitudinal passage 54 communicated at a side 56 of the stemexternally of the closure 43 and communicated directly to the inner endface l of the member, so vthat the passage will be automatically closedupon engagement of the inner end face 5l with the valve end Ell todisplace the valve. Preferably, in order to ensure a proper sealing ofthe inner end of the passage EM, the end face 51 of the member and theend face 3d of the valve are tapered to interiit and provide a sealedengagement oi the end 5l in the end Wall of the valve.

The operation of the valve mechanism, as will be clear from theforegoing, is as follows: rlhe valve til will be normally positioned touncover the washer te and communicate passages il and E2 by the actionof theapplied pressure on the end face 3l of the valve. Whereupon, toinate a tire, it is only necessary to apply the chucks it to the valvestem of the tire. After suitable inflation has been etiected, thepressure in the tire may be ascertained by the gauge 5 embodied in theinilater by pressing the manual valve control member d2 inwardly toforcibly displace the valve 32, against the resistance of the appliedpressure, into the Washer 29 to seal ofi the input passage Il. Thismovement of the valve causes the uncovering of the washer as indicatedin Figure 5, and thereby communicates the tire passage l2 to the gaugepassage i3, the air being sealed from the atmosphere in such position ofthe valve principally by the hat washer fill, and the closing oi thepassage 5d in the operating stem by engagement oi the open end 5Tthereof with the valve. After reading oi the pressure oi the tire, theinflating operation may he resumed by releasing the member i2 andallowing the applied air pressure to return the same to initialposition, as indicated in Figure 3, when the passage H will again becommunicated with the passage E2 and the gauge passage i3 edectivelysealed from both of the passages li and l2. rThe air pressure in thegauge will cause the further outward movement of the member l2 to spacethe end 5l of the member from the valve to thereby open the passage diin the member 42 and release the air in the gauge to the atmosphere.

Any type of gauge at present used in connection with tire inilatingequipment may be used in the present iniiater.

I claim:

l. A tire iniiater adapted for use with a tire chuck having adisplaceable check valve Iand prol vided with a passage adapted forconnection t-o a source of air under pressure :and a second passageadapted for connection to said `chuck and a fthird passage adapted forconnection to a gauge, and valve means normally placing said first andsecond passages in communication and being manually displaceable rrstIto close -said comrminicae tion and .then to communicate said secondand third passages, said iirst `and second passages being closed offentirely before the :communication of said second and third passages ismade to withhold pressure from said source from said gauge,

2. A tire inii-ater adapted for use with a tire ychuck having adisplaceable check valve and provided with a passage adapted forconnection to a source of air under pressure and a second passageadapted for connection tosaid chuck and "a third passage adapted forconnection to a gauge, mounted in said iirst passage and responsive ltothe pressure Itherein for displacement of said means by said pressure toa position placing said irst and second passages in communication andbeing manually displacealble against the resistance oi the pressure insaid iirst passage to discommunicate said rst and second passages and tocommunicate said second and third passages in progressive order wherebysaid pressure passage will ibe sealed off from said tire passage priorto communi-cation of said tire `and gauge passages.

3. A 'tire inflater provided with a passage adapted for connection to -asource of air under pressure .and a second passage adapted forconnection to the valve stem oi a tire, a third passage 4adapted forconnection to a gauge, a valve chamber connecting said first and secondpassages, a valve in said chamber .and movable to and from a positionclosing said rst passage and movable to a second position connectingsaid second and lt'lnrd passages, means providing an air pressuredifferential across said valve and normally holding the same out of saidrst position, `and a manually displaceable memlber ior moving said valve.to said second position, said valve being arranged in said valvechamber to prevent connection of said first and third passages.

4. A tire inflater adapted for use with a stire chuck having adispl'aceable check valve and provided with a passage adapted forconnection to a source of air under pressure and a second passageadapt-ed for connection to said chuck, :a valve chamber connected toeach of said passages, a valve mounted in said .chamber and movable `toand `from a position engaging an end .thereof to seal said rst passage,.a manually displaceable valve actuating member mounted in said chamberand having .a tubular portion eX- tending to the outside of said chamberand to an end of said member inside said chamber to vent said clhamberto the atmosphere and establish a pressure differential across saidvalve normally urging the same from said position, said member beingdisplaceable to engage said fend thereof against said valve ltzo closethe tubular portion of said member and to displace said valve againstthe resistance or" said pressure diferent-ial to said position.

5. A tire inilater as characterized by claim 4 wherein :the tubular endof said member and said valve are provided with a tape-red interni: toseal said tubular end.

6. A tire inilater comprising, a bo'dy having an elongated valve chamberopening to a side of said body and provided' with a passage adapted forconnection. t-o a source of air under pressure and opening to the innerend of said chamber and a passage adapted for connection to a tireopening to a side of said chamber adjacent sai-d inner en'd and .apassage adapted for connection .to a tire opening to a side of saidchamber :outwardly of said itire passage, a washer a't the inner end ofsaid chamber, a Washer in said chamber intermediate said tire and gaugepassages, a valve mounted for reciprocation within said chamber betweensaid washers and being of a length capal.ble of simultaneously :engagingboth of said washers and being eXtendible through the openings in saidWashers .to clear either of said washers while sea-ling off the other, aclosure for the open outer end of said chamber, .and a stem membermounted for reciprocation through said closure to engage and `displacesaid valve to said first Washer againstI the resistance of the airpressure in said rst passage to open said second washer and communicatesaid .tire and gauge passages.

7. A tire inflater comprising, a. body having an elongated `cylindricalvalve chamber having a threaded louter end portion opening to a side ofsaid body, said body fbein-g provided With a plurality of passagesadapted for `connection to a source of air under pressure and a tire anda gauge and opening to said chamber respectively at the inside endthereof with said .tire and gauge passages spaced `outwardly .therefnomin the order named, a Washer at the inner end Aof said chambersurrounding said 'air pressure passage, a sleeve in said chamber havingone end `abutting said Washer and ported to said tire passage, a Washerabutting Athe opposite end of said sleeve, a cylindrical shaped valvemounted in said sleeve for reciprocal movement therein and having an endportion slidably mounted in said second washer -being extendible throughthe openings [in said washers to clear either of said Washers whilesealing ofi" the other, a second sleeve abutting Ithe outer side of saidsecond Washer and ported to said gauge passage, .a hat Washer engagingthe outer end of said second sleeve, a closure member threaded into ytheouter end of said chamber, and a Istem member mounted for reciprocationthrough said closure .and hat Washer and arranged to engage the innerend thereof with said valve and provided with an internal longitudinalpassage opening lto said end and rto` the side of said member at ltheexterior of said chamber.

WILLIAM T. AEMNEUS.

